Humanitarian aid would be familiar to Marines

GIDGET FUENTES

Staff Writer

CAMP PENDLETON -- As the U.S.-led war on terrorism proceeds with
long-range missile strikes and bombing runs against targets in
Afghanistan, other combat forces, including a locally based Marine
Corps unit, are operating in the Arabian Sea south of Pakistan.

Although U.S. officials haven't announced what role the Marines
will play, military commanders could call on the 15th Marine
Expeditionary Unit if needed to help rescue downed airmen, protect
U.S. embassies or deliver food to refugees fleeing from war,
missions that are part of the Marine Corps' regular combat
training, military experts say.

The force of 2,100 Marines and sailors, an infantry battalion
reinforced with jets, helicopters, amphibious vehicles and boats,
is the largest ground combat unit currently operating in the
Arabian Sea.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit left the Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base on Aug. 13 for a scheduled six-month overseas
deployment to the Persian Gulf, and it took with it more than two
dozen helicopters and jets along with combat equipment, weapons and
armored vehicles.

The Marines are deployed on three Navy amphibious ships -- the
USS Peleliu, USS Comstock and USS Dubuque -- that serve as part of
the U.S. naval forces that include two carrier battle groups led by
the aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Enterprise. Two
carriers, the USS Kitty Hawk from Tokyo and the USS Theodore
Roosevelt, are also headed to the area.

Defense officials wouldn't say Monday what role the 15th MEU and
the Navy amphibious ships would have in the military campaign
against suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and his
terrorist network that U.S. officials say are responsible for the
Sept. 11 attacks on the East Coast.

Before deploying overseas, the 15th Marine expeditionary unit
completed a schedule of training exercises on missions it may be
asked to take on, including humanitarian assistance and food
distribution.

The unit has six AV-8B Harrier attack jets, which could be
available to participate in bombing runs against terrorist targets,
along with transport and attack helicopters that could be used to
rescue downed pilots, evacuate U.S. embassies or help feed hungry
people.

Humanitarian relief has been a familiar mission to Marines since
1991.

That year, Marines returning to Camp Pendleton from the Gulf War
and the refugee mission in Northern Iraq brought food and supplies
to Bangladesh, a Central Asian nation ravaged by a typhoon. A year
later, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit landed on Somalia's
beaches to ensure that food got to a population starving because of
clan warfare.

Earlier deliveries of food into Somalia barely got to the people
who needed it, prompting U.S. officials to use military force to
protect the humanitarian effort.

Somalia is an example of what Marines may be called on to do as
part of the military campaign's mission to help displaced or needy
Afghani citizens.

"We were hauling in food by air and (light armored vehicles) and
trucks all over that country, and setting up food distribution
centers and distribution processes that kept the bandits from
stealing that stuff," said Mike Brooks, a retired colonel and
infantry regimental commander. "I think that's the kind (of role)
you'll see. It's a capability of the MEU. Whether they will use the
MEU that's over there (in the Arabian Sea), I don't know."

Each of the Marine Corps' seven expeditionary units -- three are
based at Camp Pendleton -- undergoes a series of training exercises
before deploying overseas.

These training scenarios include a mock relief mission -- which
usually includes seizing an airfield so helicopters and transport
planes can deliver food, water and supplies -- patrolling and
securing the airfield from thieves or enemy troops, setting up
tents for refugees, relief organizations and medical personnel, and
escorting convoys of food and supplies to distribution points.